Corn popper



May 2, 195@ R. P. HUMPHREY 2,595,956

Y CORN POPPER Filed Feb; 1v, 1947 Gttorncgs torn-poppen Patented May 2, 1950 y UNITED STATES iFAiTENT OFFICE tsoasss CORN PoPP'ER Ralph `P. zumphrey, Liberty; M0. iipiieatitii etrary 17, 194i; serial No; '729,095

4c1aims. (c1. 5s- 108) This invention' relates" to corri-peppers, par-` ticularly `those of the type Which include a` 'saucepan-shaped vessel 'eqiipp'ed with lid carrying th stirring l'lcliniin; and has foi* its principal object to provide a structure of this character wherein the stirring mechanism is readily i'e moved t'o permit s of the vessel as a conventional saucepan for any household purpose It is also an objct of thii/"entih to provide a construction wherein the liu freely retains its seat on the vessel and there is no raising; cock: ing, or rolling out 'of the lid incidental to opeiation of the stirring inechanismj consequently, no screws or clamps are necessary in holding' the lid on the vessel;

Other objects of the" intention' are to provide a stirring mechanism having a crank rotatably mounted on the lid and which is connected witli a stirring rod to permit slfeadjustrient of the stirring rod relative to the crank; to provide a knob for the crank that is adapted to beremcved and mounted on the lid when the stirring `rod is removed therefrom; to provide a structitre wherein the stirring rod is kept in rotative contact with the bottom of the vessel by a Weight which also forms the driving' connection between the crank and stirring rod; and to" provide the stirring rod and crank supporting bearing meinber with vents for releasing vapors' from the vessel.

other objects er trie investite are to provide a cover and stirrer unit which is applicable to any conventional `vessel of the saucepan type; and to provide a unit assembly which reduces the possibility of misplacing thev prts Vwhen the stirlcr mechanism isire'no'ved fon the lidA accomplishing these and' other objects of the invention hereinafter pointed ont', I have pro'l videdl improved stricture, the preferred forn f which is illustrated in the accompanying' drawing wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective vievv of a corn-pppei' embodying the features of the e's'tini/ntioh; portion of the vessel and lid theefori being 'broken away to better illustt the stirring roti.

3F1'g. 2 ls" a viert-ical1 central section tnrouglthe rig. 3 is an enlarged section tlircugrli the stir: ring rod and crank bearin'g., the stirririerou being in raised 'c'onditioii` and disconnected from criteriY engagement witliti'iecark. 1

Fig.- i isa 'fragnintay setti inustating rei niieval of the tirinevred th. tri: busi-'img cf ne. 5 is a perspective new ef utp-er per:

2 tion of the stirring rod bearing and crank, th bearing being shown removed from the lid of the vessel, the stirring rod in raised position, and the knob as removed from the crank arm.

Referring more' in detail to the drawings:

AI designates a corn-popper constructed in accordance with the present invention and which includes a Vessel 2 of the shape of a cbr'ivn tioria1 saucepan and having a substantially nat bottom 3 and a cylindrical wall 4. The rirn of the Wall is shaped to provide an outwardly ex! tending annular Shoulder I5 "encircled by a flange 'I to seat and `retain alici or cover 8. The Wall of the Vessel carriesa" handle 9 that may be snitAlably attached thereto so that the vessel may be carried or supported in the hand.` The lid or cover 8 illustrated in the drawing is of somewhat dome shape having a relatively flat top I0 lniurdV- ing downwardly at its periphery to terminate in a bead I I that is adapted to seat upon the shoule der 6 and be retained by the flange l.

Formed in the axial center of thelid is anoining I2 which is mounted a bushing I3 haring? an internally threaded axial opening I4, Th bushing has a laterally extending annulainang I5 engaging the outer face of the lid and is r'eJ tained in xed position by a Washer It'` that is' pressed thereon and which engages the inner fac'e of the lid with sumcient tightness to prir'nt turning of the bushing. The threaded opening I4 of the bushing ordinarily mounts the thread ed shank I8 of a knob I9.`

When the vessel is to be used as a p'pco popper the invention contemplates removal' o'f the knob, and application to the lid of a stirring mechanism 2d including a bearing member or journal 2l which has a cylindrical body 22 threaded at one end as at 23 and' provided' with a circumferential flange' 24 at the other; The threads 23 conform with the threadsof the bush# ing I3 so that the bearingr member is adapted to be mounted on the lid by turni-ng the" lid' upon the threaded portion of the bearing member; The threads 23 terminate'short of the nange itilA to pro- Vide a smooth' periphery 25 formountng' a collar 26 that' is pressed thereon and has a reduced end abutting against the flange 24 to forma; bearing surface between a shoulder 24 on the collar and the flange 24 and which retains a: crank 21. The collar 26 also formsfa stop shoulder 28 `which engages the flange I5 of the bushing i3 tolock frictionaily the bearing member therein. The bearing member has an* axiai boreV 29 extending tnroiigh the'v hanged end and' a cunt'rbore 3u openifgfroni the threaded end-thebre 29for1- itate insertion and removal of the agitator through the opening of the bushing I3. The curved portion of the rod also .provides a point bearing contact 36 with the bottom of the vessel so that the agitator arm 34 is supported slightly thereabove and in position to engage the kernels of corn when the popper is being used. The shaft 3i .projects upwardly from the bearing member 2 I and mounts a weight 31 having an annularly depending skirt portion 38 which passes loosely over the bearing member and collar 26.

One side of the skirt portion is pro-vided with an elongated slot 39 for accommodating the crank 2l and which provides a connection between the crank and the stirring rod. The weight is sufficient to hold the stirring rod in contact with the bottom of the vessel and the connection thereof with the crank compensates for variations in depth of the vessel or irregularities in the bottom thereof. The crank Z1 has an opening 46 in the end thereof which accommodates the bearing portion of collar 26 so that the crank is rotatable freely thereon. The opposite end of the crank carries a bushing 4I having internal threads 4,2 corresponding with the threaded shank t8 previously described. The bushing 42 has a reduced portion 43 extending through an opening 44 in the free end of the crank and which mounts a washer 45 that is pressed thereon cooperated with a knurled peripheral flange 46 of the bushing to rotatably retain the bushing in the opening of the crank.

When the vessel 2 is used as a saucepan the knob I9 is threaded into the bushing I3 of the lid 8. This may be readily effected by holding the knob I9 and registering the threaded shank I8 with the opening I4 in the bushing and then spinning the lid 8 onto the shank until the knob engages the flange I of the bushing.

When the vessel is to be used as a corn-popper, the knob I9 is turned out of the threaded opening I4 of the bushing in the lid and threaded into the bushing 4I at the free end of the crank 21. The arm 34 of the stirring rod 3l is then passed through the opening I4 of the bushing I5 in the lid. The curved portion in the rod is moved through the opening I4 as shown in Fig. 4 to bring the shaft 3| into axial alignment with the vessel. The bearing member 2l is then threaded into the bushing I3 so that the collar thereon frictionally engages the flange I5 of the bushing I3 to prevent rotation thereof upon rotation of the crank 21 as later described. The rod is then allowed to drop through the bushing so that the bearing point 36 rests upon the bottom 3 of the vessel and the notch 39 of the weight 31 passes over the crank arm to connect the stirring rod with the crank as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The stirring mechanism should be applied to the lid prior to application of the lid to the vessel. This procedure is more convenient as the lid may be quickly spun onto the threads of the `bearing member.

The corn to be popped is poured into the vessel and the lid replaced so that the arm of the stirring rod is in position to stir the grains of li if) corn over the bottom of the vessel and prevent burning thereof during popping. When the curved .portion of the rod is contacting the bottom of the vessel the Weight connects the rod with the crank. During popping any steam or vapors that may rise within the vessel are free to pass off through the vent ports of the bearing member, the skirt portion of the weight acting as a shield to deflect the hot vapors downwardly and prevent injury tothe handof the operator. The weight being exposed, provides condensing suriace for the vapors so that they are substantially condensed thereon and are dissipated without annoyance to the operator during the popping operation. The weight also conceals the bearing member and gives a streamlined appearance to the assembly.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a popcorn popper wherein the stirring mechanism is readily removed and the knob of the crank applied to the lid of the vessel so that the vessel may be used in the manner of an ordinary saucepan. It is also obvious that the stirring mechanism may be readily re-inserted when it is again desired to use the vessel as a popcorn popper. It is obvious that the curvature within the stirring rod facilitates insertion of the rod Vand also provides a substantially frictioniess bearing on the bottom of the vessel so that there is no cutting, marring or wearing of the vessel `bottom with the stirring mechanism in use.

It is also obvious that due to the sliding connection between the crank and the agitator shaft, the lid seats freely upon the shoulder of the vessel and turning of the crank does not raise, cock or roll the lid out of its position.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described including a vessel having a bottom and a iid for closing an open top of the vessel, a bearing member substantially in the axial center of the lid and having a counterbored axial opening, a shaft extending through said opening of the bearing lmember, said counterbore of the opening forming an annular passageway extending from the interior of the vessel part way through the bearing member, and having outlet through a port in the bearing member for venting the vessel, a crank rotatably supported by the bearing member, and a driving connection between the crank and the shaft.

2. In a device of the character described including a vessel having a bottom and a lid for closing an open top of the vessel, a bearing member substantially in the axial center of the lid and having a counterbored axial opening, a shaft extending through said opening of the bearing member, said counterbore of the opening forming an annularpassageway extending from the interior of the vessel part way through the bearing member, and having outet through a port in the bearing member, a crank rotatably sup--Y .ported by the bearing member, and a connector fixed to the shaft and having a skirt portion `depending over` the bearing member and provided with a notch for passing the crank to slidably connect the shaft-with the crank.

3. In a device of the character described, a lid for closing an open top of a vessel, a bushing in the axial center of the lid and having an internally threaded opening, a bearing member having anexternally threaded portion removably en'- gaging the threads of the bushing, a shaft extending through the axial opening of the bearing member and having a laterally and upwardly curved lower end terminating in a laterally extending stirring arm, -a crank rotatably supported on the bearing member, and a weight xed to the shaft and having a skirt portion depending over the bearing member and provided with a notch for connecting the crank with the shaft.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a lid for closing the open top of a vessel, a bearing member mounted in the axial center of the lid, a shaft extending through the bearing member of the vessel and terminating in a stirring arm adapted to sweep over the bottom of said vessel, a crank rotatably mounted on the bearing member, and a Weight xed to said shaft and 15 2,146,372

having a skirt portion depending over the bearing member and .provided with a notch for passing the arm and provide a driving connection between the crank and said shaft.

RALPH P. HUMPHREY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this 'patenti UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,178,171 Meyer Apr. 4, 1916 1,621,277 Richman Mar. 15i, 1927 2,120,718 Smith June 14, 1938 Ingraham Feb. 7, 1939 

